Mounts for movable doll eyes for stuffed toys



Dec. 21, 1965 H. BRUDNEY 3,224,140

MOUNTS FOR MOVABLE DOLL EYES FOR STUFFED TOYS Filed Feb. 28, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 21, 1965 H. BRUDNEY 3,224,140

MOUNTS FOR MOVABLE DOLL EYES FOR STUFFED TOYS Filed Feb. 28, 1962- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 247 ,Z, 244 263 r376 25; ll 250 260 "1 United States Patent O 3,224,140 MOUNTS FOR MOVABLE DOLL EYES 1F OR STUFFED TOYS Harry Brudney, New York, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Jacoby-Bender, lnc., Woodside, N.Y., a corporation of New York Fiied Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 176,238 4 laims. ((ll. 46-169) This invention relates to movable doll eyes, and more particularly to a device whereby a standard type of movable doll eye, i.e., sleeping eye, may be securely mounted in the cloth or textile, or plastic skin of stuffed toys.

One of the problems i connection with the manufacture of stuffed toys, e.g., animals, is the need for a simple and secure mounting for a movable eye of the sleeping doll type. Substantially all stufied toys used fixed eyes. One of the reasons for this is the difficulty of applying the relatively large casing of a movable eye to the face of a stuffed toy. While this problem has been solved heretofore in various ways, for example as shown in my prior US. Patent No. 2,799,971, the present invention is advantageous for the reason that a standard eye as presently manufactured in large quantities, for the doll trade, can be used. Further, the tools for applying the elements of the invention of such an eye and for securing the eye to the ski of a soft toy are exceedingly simple.

Thus, in my prior patent there is disclosed an eye casing and a tool for securing the casing to a stuffed toy skin wherein the casing must be specially made to coact with a locking element that requires setting by means of a tool. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for locking a standard movable doll eye to a stuffed toy skin without the need for manufacturing specially stamped casings, although the locking principle taught herein can utilize a specially stamped casing if it is desired to eliminate one of the separate locking elements. It is a further object of the invention to provide a simplified mode of applying the eye and the locking member to the stuffed toy concerned. It is a still further object of the invention to provide locking elements that can be very simply manufactured by a stamping process. Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description to follow.

Briefly, my present invention provides for two elements for securely fastening a movable doll eye to a stuffed toy skin. One such element is a flanged ring which may be force fitted to a standard eye where such eye has the conventional circumferential rim at the juncture of the front and rear casings or shells. Thus, the ring may be readily force fitted Onto the casing in abutment with the rim by means of a cylindrical tool which need not be power operated but could be lightly tapped with a hammer, or even hand pressed. In fact, the inherent holding effect of the invention is such that force fitting is not fully essential since the locking ring used in conjunction with most of the modifications shown herein has tongues which g ip the surface of the eye casing in such a manner that the skin of the toy is secured between the two rings and the eye cannot fall out of the toy face since the locking ring has a flange which presses the ski against the first mentioned ring, which pressure is supported by the rim of the casing. Similarly, the eye cannot be pushed into the face because of the abutment of the first mentioned ring with the casing rim.

A detailed description of the invention now follows, in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section of an eye casing having a plastic rear housing and utilizing a locking ring in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary section showing the .trunnion support for an eye held in the casing of FIG. 1;

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FIG, 3 is a plan view, looking into the rear of a modified form of forward ring;

PEG. 4 is an elevation of the ring of MG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of locking ring;

FIG. 6 is an elevation of the ring shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an elevation of an eye assembled on a stuffed toy skin by means of the rings shown in FIGS. 3 thru 6, such rings being in cross section;

FIG. 8 is a further modified form of the invention showing a locking ring as applied to a plastic one-piece casing;

FIG. 9 is a front view of FIG. 8 partially broken to show a cross section illustrating the mode of supporting an eyeball trunnion;

FIG. 10 is a full line elevation of FIG. 8 showing additional details of the plastic casing and showing an eyeball in the casing;

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal section of another form of the inve tion;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of a still further form of the invention, and;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section taken at right angles to the view of FIG. 12, to show details of an eyeball trunnion support.

Reference is made now to FIGS. 1 and 2 showing a molded plastic rear housing having a forward flange 114 undercut at 117 and terminating in a fairly narrow peripheral edge 121 which pinches the marginal area around the aperture of a stuffed animal skin. The rear locking ring 128 provided with. tongues 131 is offset to form a crevice 1.34 into which the registering edge 121 can force the skin material when the ring is drawn up tightly against such material. A radial flange 137 of the locking ring is utilized to provide a fairly fiat marginal support for the skin. The front shell 14 of the eye is of generally conventional metallic construction and is force fitted into a rabbet 143 molded at the forward end of the plastic shell 110. The mode of eyeball support is as shown in my prior US. Patent No. 2,963,818 in that the eyeball trunnion 147 of eyeball 148 is carried in a socket 159 formed of the metallic front shell material and closed by an integral bent tab 154 as clearly disclosed in FIG. 2.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown a modified form of forward ring comprising the cylindrical portion 160 having diametrically opposed channels 163 for accommodating the conventional protuberances 167 of the trunnion sockets of a front shell 170 as shown in FIG. 7. An inner radial flange 173 abuts the rim 175 formed by the juncture of front shell 1'70 and rear housing 130. An outer radial flange 183 is curved rearwardly as shown in FIG. 7 and effects a narrow peripheral edge 187 for increasing the unit stress in compression of the skin material 125. It will be understood to be the same skin material as described in connection with FIG. 1. The locking ring in this instance difiers from that heretofore described in that, as shown in FIG. 5, an inner radial flange 190 is untilized which is circularly continuous and is not interrupted by tongues. Flange 190 terminates in a narrow edge 193. The diameter of the aperture demarcated by the edge 1'53 is few thousandths less than the diameter of the rear housing accordingly, the locking ring is force fitted by a power stroke of a suitable machine onto the rear housing to impinge against the skin. The forward flange of the locking ring is shaped so as to provide a crevice 196 into which a circular area of skin material is pressed by the edge 187 of the forward ring when the locking ring is driven home. The locking ring is provided with bulbous channels 209 to accommodate the respective protuberances 263 of the rear housing. Thus, a larger skin aperture may be used and longitudinal bunchiness is avoided.

Referring now to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, a unitary one-piece casing 210 is disclosed. Such casing may be molded in accordance with known methods of molding to provide trunnion hearing bores 213. The particular type of molding which eflects such a construction without the need for core pins has been heretofore known, and such process inherently produces a slot 216 on the exterior of the casing backed by a partially arcuate mass of material 220 on the inside of the casing. The molding details are not germane to the present disclosure, save to say that bores 213 are thus produced and it will be noted that such bores do not have any entrance channels leading thereto in order to slide the trunnions such as 224 into place for support Within the bores as would ordinarily be expected, has been found that the use of a suitable plastic material will provide enough resiliency to force an eyeball into place from the front of the casing, there being some deformation in so doing due to the span of the trunnions. Nevertheless, by such forced assembly, the eyeball 227 can be forced into the casing until the trunnions are in alignment with bores 213, and they will snap thereinto to rotatively support the eyeball. The forward flange 228 of the casing is molded in a manner similar to that described in connection with FIG. 1, except that in this instance no undercut is used, although it could be. In any event a locking ring such as 230 having tongues 233 and the crevice 236 at the forward flange is untilized in a manner hereinbefore described, to press the material of the skin against the forward flange of the casing. In this instance it will be noted that the skin material is compressed between the short longitudinal cylindrical sections 240 and 243 respectively, of the forward flange and the locking ring. Thus, the outer diameter of flange 228 and the diameter of the cylindrical portion 243 are radially spaced by a distance less than the normal thickness of the skin, in order to achieve a tight compressive grip, the skin being forced into cylindrical configuration in the area of compression.

The form of the invention shown in FIG. 11 utilizes a plastic front shell 244 having the undercut flange 247 integrally molded therewith. In this instance, a retainer ring 250 fits into the bore of the shell at the rear, in order to lock the eyeball trunnions such as 253 in place. In this instance slots of suitable depth are molded into the front shell so that the eyeball can be slid thereinto from the rear, one such slot being indicated at 256; also see FIG. 13. A metallic rear housing 260 is utilized having a frictional force fit on the forward shell. The rear housing maintains the retainer ring 250 in place against a shoulder 263 within the front shell, and also has a forward flange formation affording a crevice 266, into which the undercut flange 247 presses the skin material 270. As described in conjunction with FIG. 8, the skin material is also circumferentially gripped between the concentric portions 273 of flange 247 and 276 of the rear housing.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate a further modification of the invention, in that the retainer ring is eliminated and the rear housing 280 may be force fitted into the front shell 283 until it abuts the inner shoulder 286. Here again the front shell is of molded plastic and has an integral undercut front flange 290. In this instance the locking ring has an aperture effected by a continuous circular sloping inner flange 293 shown as slanted slightly in a direction reverse to that of movement when being pushed into the front shell. Such reverse slant takes advantage of the natural resiliency of the metallic material of the locking ring in order to facilitate forcing of the ring into place while at the same time the narrow edge 294 digs into the plastic material of the front shell to prevent any loosening motion. As in the form of the invention described in FIG. 11, the forward flanging of the locking ring provides for the crevice 296 in which the material is pinched by the relatively narrow edge of flange 290, and compressive cylindrical gripping of the material is likewise achieved between the short cylindrical portions 300 and 303 of the flange and the locking ring respectively. As shown in FIG. 13, the rear housing 280 forms a rear bearing and also a retaining element for the trunnion 253 of an eyeball 254.

With particular reference to FIG. 10 there is an inherent advantage in an integrally molded plastic casing for the reason that the front portion can be made much flatter in the flange area than would'be possible with the metallic front shell, which can be seen by comparison of FIGS. 1 and 10. This is likewise true of constructions described herein which use plastic front shells such as shown in FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. Such flattening of the forward portion of the casing is particularly desirable in the case of an eye used with stuffed toys, for the reason that the casing itself is not so obtrusive and the eyeball area itself is accentuated by contrast. Such problem does not exist in connection with vinyl dolls, for the reason that the entire casing is concealed within the molded socket of the doll head. Accordingly, the use of plastic as shown and described herein is a distinct improvement in the manufacture of movable eyes for stuffed toys, for the reasons set forth.

However, a fairly strong skin material is required. For the usual skin material, which is relatively flimsy cloth, a smaller aperture is preferred and accordingly the surplus material not clinched between the flanges becomes a problem. FIGS. 1, 7, 8, l1, and 12 show constructions which solve the problem by making the internal diameters of the various locking rings large enough to accommodate the excess skin which is disposed rearwardly in a generally cylindrical configuration inside the concentric spacing between the forward ring, or front shell body, and the respective locking ring.

Having thus described my invention, I am aware that various changes may be made within the spirit thereof, and I do not seek to be limited to the precise illustrations herein given, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A doll eye for a stuffed toy, comprising a casing, a forward end of said casing being provided with a radial flange element for engagement with the front marginal surface of an eye aperture in the skin of a stuffed toy, a locking ring having a radial flange element for engagement with the rear surface of said skin and having an aperture encompassing said casing, said latter aperture having edge means engageable with said casing to effect a frictional grip thereon, said locking ring being slidable on said casing to compress said skin between the aforementioned flange elements, said edge means being operative to securely hold said locking ring in skin compressing position, said casing comprising a metallic front shell and a molded plastic rear housing, said first mentioned flange element being an integrally molded portion of said rear housing and having a rearwardly facing undercut surface, said locking ring flange element being provided with a crevice, said undercut surface terminating in a relatively narrow edge registering with said crevice for compressing a narrow area of said skin into said crevice.

2. A doll eye for a stuffed toy, comprising a casing, a forward end of said casing being provided with a radial flange element for engagement with the front marginal surface of an eye aperture in the skin of a stuffed toy, a locking ring having a radial flange element for engagernent with the rear surface of said skin and having an aperture encompassing said casing, said latter aperture having edge means engageable with said casing to effect a frictional grip thereon, said locking ring being slidable on said casing to compress said skin between the aforementioned flange elements, said edge means being operative to securely hold said locking ring in skin compress ing position, said casing comprising a metallic front shell and a molded plastic rear housing, said first mentioned flange element being an integrally molded portion of said rear housing and having a rearwardly facing undercut surface, said second mentioned flange element being provided with a crevice, said undercut surface terminating in a relatively narrow edge registering with said crevice for compressing a narrow area of said skin into said crevice, said radial flange elements having longitudinal cylindrical portions generally concentric with each other and having predetermined radial spacing from each other less than the normal uncompressed thickness of said skin so as to compress a cylindrical area of said skin therebetween.

3. A- doll eye for a stuffed toy, comprising a casing, a forward end of said casing being provided with a radial flange element for engagement with the front marginal surface of an eye aperture in the skin of a stuffed toy, a locking ring having a radial flange element for engagement with the rear surface of said skin and having an aperture encompassing said casing, said latter aperture having edge means engageable with said casing to effect a frictional grip thereon, said locking ring being slidable on said casing to compress said skin between the aforementioned flange elements, said edge means being operative to securely hold said locking ring in skin compressing position, said first mentioned flange element having an outwardly extending radial flange terminating in a relatively narrow edge projecting rearwardly, said locking ring flange element having a crevice juxtaposed registrably with respect to said relatively narrow edge so as to compress a narrow area of skin therebetween.

4. A doll eye for a stuffed toy, comprising a casing, a forward end of said casing being provided with a radial flange element for engagement with the front marginal surface of an eye aperture in the skin of a stuffed toy, a locking ring having a radial flange element for engagement with the rear surface of said skin and having an aperture encompassing said casing, said latter aperture having edge means engageable with said casing to effect a frictional grip thereon, said locking ring being slidable on said casing to compress said skin between the aforementioned flange elements, said edge means being operative to securely hold said locking ring in skin compressing position, said first mentioned flange element comprising an outwardly extending radial flange terminating in a relatively narrow edge, said locking ring flange element having a crevice juxtaposed registrably with respect to said relatively narrow edge so as to compress a narrow area of skin therebetween, said radial flange being provided with a rearward slope so as to concentrate compression of said skin in said crevice by means of said narrow edge.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,069,433 8/1913 Kane 24-208 1,880,845 10/1932 Czop 24-208 1,897,936 2/1933 Hausner 24-208 2,696,064 12/1954 Wolfe et a1. 24-902 2,699,621 1/1955 Levinson 46-165 2,763,031 9/1956 Rekettye 46-165 2,763,960 9/1956 Wintriss 285-200 X 2,799,971 7/1957 Brudney 46-165 2,928,208 3/1960 Wintriss 46-117 2,963,818 12/1960 Brudney 46-169 3,101,993 8/1963 Cohn 46-169 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Examiner. 

1. A DOLL EYE FOR A STUFFED TOY, COMPRISING A CASING, A FORWARD END OF SAID CASING BEING PROVIDED WITH A RADIAL FLANGE ELEMENT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE FRONT MARGINAL SURFACE OF AN EYE APERTURE IN THE SKIN OF A STUFFED TOY, A LOCKING RING HAVING A RADIAL FLANGE ELEMENT FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE REAR SURFACE OF SAID SKIN AND HAVING AN APERTURE ENCOMPASSING SAID CASING, SAID LATTER APERTURE HAVING EDGE MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CASING TO EFFECT A FRICTIONAL GRIP THEREON, SAID LOCKING RING BEING SLIDABLE ON SAID CASING TO COMPRESS SAID SKIN BETWEEN THE AFOREMENTIONED FLANGE ELEMENTS, SAID EDGE MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO SECURELY HOLD SAID LOCKING RING IN SKIN COMPRESSING POSITION, SAID CASING COMPRISING A METALLIC FRONT SHELL AND A MOLDED PLASTIC REAR HOUSING, SAID FIRST MENTIONED FLANGE ELEMENT BEING AN INTEGRALLY MOLDED PORTION OF SAID REAR HOUSING AND HAVING A REARWARDLY FACING UNDERCUT SURFACE, SAID LOCKING RING FLANGE ELEMENT BEING PROVIDED WITH A CREVICE, SAID UNDERCUT SURFACE TERMINATING IN A RELATIVELY NARROW EDGE REGISTERING WITH SAID CREVICE FOR COMPRESSING A NARROW AREA OF SAID SKIN INTO SAID CREVICE. 